Carbon judge to hear from school board hopefuls

A Carbon County judge will take the first step Tuesday morning toward ending gridlock on the Lehighton Area School District’s board of directors.

Twelve hopefuls will state their case in front of President Judge Roger Nanovic beginning at 9 a.m. in the Carbon County Courthouse.

After nine candidates submitted their petitions in January, three more people added their name to the mix this month.

Frank Tamburri sought a board seat in the 2015 general election and again attempted to join the board in 2016 following the death of William Hill.

Nanovic was also on the bench for the 2016 vacancy, when he chose former board member David Krause.

This time around, Tamburri is asking Nanovic to step aside.

“The last time a vacancy was required to be decided by judicial appointment, both Judge Serfass and Matika recused themselves because they had children attending the district,” Tamburri said. “President Judge Nanovic admitted he has a granddaughter that will attend the Lehighton School District, giving rise to a nearly identical personal interest in the appointment of the vacant board seat.”

Tamburri also called into question comments he said were made by current and former Lehighton board members and district solicitor William Schwab, “directly calling into question the probity and impartiality of Nanovic’s ability to make an impartial decision.”

“There are consistent reports in the community,” Tamburri continued, “that Nanovic and Schwab had or maintain a close professional and/or business relationship, calling into question the ability of Nanovic to adjudicate the current vacancy in a fair and impartial manner.”

In a court filing, Nanovic indicated the recusal request would also be addressed Tuesday morning.

Lehighton residents Walter Zlomsowitch, K and K Oil Co. owner, and RoniSue Ahner, Nesquehoning Borough secretary-treasurer, also filed petitions seeking the board seat this month.

They join a group of applicants that include former board members Gloria Bowman, Krause and Duane Eidem; and Richard Beltz Sr., Francis Flickinger, Rita L. Spinelli, Timothy M. Wagner and Nathan Foeller.

The opening was created Dec. 4 when Director Gail Maholick chose a four-year term on the board over a two-year term after winning two seats in the 2017 general election.

Lehighton’s remaining eight board members had 30 days to try filling the vacancy on their own before the court accepted petitions.

Remaining board members deadlocked 4-4 on the appointment of Beltz Sr. Directors Stern, Wayne Wentz, Andrew Yenser and Steve Holland opposed the appointment, while Maholick, Joy Beers, David Bradley Sr. and Richard Beltz Jr. were in favor.

A motion to appoint Eidem never got to an official vote as Lehighton twice recessed its annual reorganization meeting in December.